In a collaborative effort, the Department of Economics and Political Science at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), in partnership with the House of Wisdom Institute for Consultations and Conflict Resolution, recently hosted a political symposium entitled “The Repercussions of the War in Ukraine on the Arab World and the Palestinian Issue.” The event was held in the presence of Professor Salem Helles, Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ahmed Yousef, Director of the House of Wisdom Institute, Mr. Bashir Qoffa, Head of the Department, as well as politicians, academics, students, researchers, and faculty members. The meeting was chaired by Professor Walid Al-Mudallal, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the Department.
The symposium featured guest speaker Oliver McTernan, founder of the “Forward Thinking” Foundation in Britain, who shared his insights on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as an international conflict mediator. McTernan’s experience in bridging the gap between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican was particularly relevant to the discussion. He addressed the repercussions of the conflict on the Arab world, particularly on the Palestinian issue, and suggested ways to address the situation. The meeting included several interventions and questions from the attendees, which the guest speaker addressed.
At the end of the symposium, a visit to the Islamic University Student Council was arranged, providing an opportunity for interaction and discussion with the students. The idea of organizing a diploma in diplomacy and conflict resolution at the Islamic University was also proposed, with McTernan promising to cooperate in making this happen in the near future through the “Forward Thinking” Foundation.
